A Side by Side: Vinyl and Cement Siding

When it comes to remodeling your home for energy efficiency and convenience, there is no improvement project quite like adding siding. Durable, efficient and low maintenance, adding siding to your home can increase your property value and help you avoid having to paint the exterior every few years. But when it comes to choosing the type of siding that is right for your property, most people are stumped. Fortunately, the decision is really simple once you understand a few key differences between vinyl and cement siding.

Vinyl Siding

Say the word “vinyl” to someone born before 1980 or after 2000 and they are likely to immediately think about records. Introduced in the 1960’s vinyl material is used today for everything from faux leather furniture to window lettering. But one of the most common applications of vinyl is in siding for your home.

Pros: Offered in a variety of colors, today’s vinyl siding is nearly seamless. It resists damage from flying debris, never needs to be painted, is impervious to insects and seals out noise, water, dust, and dirt. Vinyl siding also adds a layer of fire resistance traditional wood siding cannot. Best of all, today’s vinyl siding comes in a variety of fade-resistant colors so you can choose the look of your home without having to repaint it every few years. Vinyl siding is also less expensive than its cement counterpart.

Cons: While vinyl siding is resistant to dust and dirt, it is not heat resistant. Park your grill too close to the side of your home or look at the siding around Low-E windows and you’ll see the way heat affects vinyl. Prone to warping in the blistering Maryland summers, vinyl also tends to fade with direct exposure to sunlight. Even though it is resistant to dust and dirt, it tends to show damage when hit directly by hail or other debris.

Hardie Fiber-Cement Siding

Pros: Hardie Fiber-Cement Siding, also called Hardie board, gives your home the look of a shingled exterior with the durability of cement. Cement siding is generally recommended for harsh climates where the weather tends to shift dramatically from one extreme to another. Durable and resistant to flying debris, cement siding is one of the only types of siding recommended for areas where hurricanes are a threat. Cement siding comes in a variety of fade-resistant colors and styles offering a design versatility that vinyl cannot. Its thickness also makes it an energy efficient option, effectively insulating your home from the elements.

Cons: Although it tends to stand up to debris, fading and warping much better than vinyl, it comes at a price. Installing fiber-cement siding on a home can cost almost twice its vinyl counterpart. Fiber-cement siding also needs to be periodically repainted. Even though the paint on cement siding lasts up to 15 years and most cement siding is installed already painted, the cost of having to repaint can be a deterrent to a homeowner looking for a low- or no-maintenance siding option.

For more information about these siding options or to have one of our experts give you a no-hassle estimate for your home remodeling project, call Crown Remodeling today.

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